Packo NanoPad Seal Works For 2 Years @ 140°C
In April 2011 Packo replaced a pump from a German manufacturer in a milk sterilization unit in one of the leading Dairy groups in France. The pump was used in a UHT flash pasteurizer to transfer hot water at 140°C through a heat exchanger. It had a double seal, but the seal needed replacement every month.
The biggest challenge was to find a reliable pumping solution by using a single mechanical seal configuration for continuous operation against vapor conditions. To check the true operating conditions, such as available NPSH, Packo first supplied a pump type ICP+/40-250/1102 with a double mechanical seal.
Compared to the German competitor the NPSH value of the Packo pump was significantly lower (0.5 m for the Packo pump compared to competitor’s 1.5m) resulting in less risk on cavitation! The supplied solution with double seal worked fine for several months without any seal failure.
Once this was working fine Packo could go for the second challenge, finding a solution with a single mechanical seal.
Into the same Packo pump the double seal was replaced by a tailor made single seal called a ‘NanoPad’.
The NanoPad seal has special seal faces combining hard faces with low heat absorption characteristics resulting in a mechanical seal which should be extremely suitable for operation against vapor and frequent dry running conditions (i.e. during CIP return).
In November 2011 the NanoPad seal was installed for a test in the Packo pump.
The first inspection after 3 months showed that the sealing faces were still fine but the Viton O-rings showed some fatigue. They were replaced by a different Viton compound. Since that day the pump works without any problem.
Result: from 1 month life time to more than 2 years:
* Cost saving of spare parts: 24 double seals
* Cost saving due to reduction in downtime
* Cost saving because there is no water consumption
* No more contamination risks due to leaking seals.
Today numerous Packo pumps have been equipped with the ‘NanoPad singe seal’ for all different kinds of solutions such as UHT sterilization, CIP return, etc.
Are you also looking for a reliable, cost saving solution to solve your seal issues? Please contact Packo Inox on Tel +32 51 51 92 80, Fax +32 51 51 92 99, Email pumps@packo.com or visit www.packopumps.com.
